What Ram?

[gile]

I want to upgrade ram on my gigabite ga-ep45-ds3, and was wondering what is the best choice and also what frequency should it be?

[profJim]

Re: What Ram?

With 4GB, 800MHz memory with 4-4-4-12 ratings or 1066MHz with 5-5-5-15 ratings will give you the best performance.
Most top quality memory will run with identical real world performance when using:
- up to 874 - 900 MHz with 4-4-4-12 timings
- up to 1066 - 1100MHz with 5-5-5-15 timings

G.Skill memory is very popular on the forum.
Mushkin, Corsair or Kingston HyperX memory are also excellent.
I'm using 8GB of HyperX T1 (very tall heat spreader) memory in my P35 system with 4-4-4-10 settings at 874MHz.
My 4 GB Mushkin 996599 memory is in my N650SLI-DS4 backup system.

Your memory speed will depend on your CPU Host Frequency setting and the System Memory Multiplier settings.
Don't mix memory brands, as it's much harder to get your system stable.

[gile]

Re: What Ram?

My cpu host frequency is set to 400, and system multiplier is 9.5. I was wondering if I could gain more performance with 8gb of 1066 Mhz Ram, cause perhaps I could push the host freq. higher? Or should I leave the host freq. at 400, and just put a 8gb of 800Mhz Ram?

[profJim]

Re: What Ram?

8GB of ram won't give you more performance; there are very few applications that need more than 4GB of ram unless you are running multiple Virtual Machines. Sometimes 8GB of memory can't run stable at maximum memory settings. Sometimes you will need to underclock 1066MHz to 900 - 1000MHz.

I bought both of my 2 x 2GB HyperX memory kits at the same time to better ensure that each kit is from the same batch. I tested each 4GB at 1066MHz for stability, but didn't bother to see what the maximum stable 8GB memory speed would be. I prefer to run with tighter 4-4-4-12/10 timings under 900MHz.
With 8GB of memory, you will need to make some additional bios changes.

Your best overall system performance will be with a higher cpu host frequency and a lower cpu multiplier.
I recommend tweaking these settings with only 4GB installed until you've passed extended Prime95 stress tests.

When you are ready to go off the deep end ;), copy the EP45 generic bios template from http://forums.tweaktown.com/gigabyte...tml#post312016 into a plain text editor such as Notepad, where you will fill in your current settings and post your settings.

http://forums.tweaktown.com/gigabyte...tml#post295784, post #5, steps 2 - 4 describe information that we need.

[gile]

Re: What Ram?

I have bought myself 2x2 gb, kingston hyperx ddr2 1066, removed the old sticks (ocz), but when I set manual on 1066 with dram voltage set to 2.1v. and timings 5-5-5-15, my system won't boot. I have to remind that my cpu is set to 400x9.5, with voltage of 1.3625v. Can someone please help?
I am currently on a cell phone, so I will upload the template as soon as possible.

[profJim]

Re: What Ram?

Set MCH Core = 1.24 and Dram Voltage = 2.20. If your system won't boot, remove one memory module and see if it boots.

[gile]

Re: What Ram?

I have tried every combination with memory multiplier, tried setting the MCH Core to 1.24 and dram voltage to 2.2. Even tried removing one ram but the system only boots with ram at 800 MHz, and when it does it seems a bit slow, some programs are not responding at all. Here is the template.
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3 rev.1.0, BIOS version F9.
Cpu: Intel Core2duo E8500 3,16Ghz-O.C. to 3.80Ghz
Ram:Kingston HyperX 2x2 Gb http://www.kingston.com/datasheets/KHX8500D2_2G.pdf
Power Supply Unit: Corsair TX 650w


MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)
Robust Graphics Booster ------------ : [Auto]
CPU Clock Ratio ---------------------- : [9 X]
Fine CPU Clock Ratio ----------------: [+0.5]
CPU Frequency ----------------------: 3.80 GHz (400x9.5)

Clock Chip Control
Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control --------------- : [Enabled]
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) --------------: [400]
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) ---------- : [100]

C.I.A.2 ------------------------------ : [Disabled]

Advanced Clock Control ------- [Press Enter]
CPU Clock Drive ---------------------- : [800mV]
PCI Express Clock Drive -------------- : [900mV]
CPU Clock Skew (ps) ------------------ : [0ps]
MCH Clock Skew (ps) ------------------ : [0ps]

DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance ------------------- : [STANDARD]
Extreme Memory Profile --- (X.M.P.) --- : [Disabled]
(G)MCH Frequency Latch ---------------- : [400]
System Memory Multiplier -------------- : [2.66D]
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ---------------- : [1066]
DRAM Timing Selectable ---------------- : [MANUAL]

Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time -----------5--- : [5]
tRCD ---------------------------5-- : [5]
tRP -----------------------------5-- : [5]
tRAS ---------------------------18- : [15]

Advanced Timing Control
tRRD -------------------------3---- : [Auto]
tWTR ------------------------3---- : [Auto]
tWR --------------------------6----- : [Auto]
tRFC -------------------------52--- : [Auto]
tRTP -------------------------3---- : [Auto]
Command Rate (CMD) --------------0------ : [Auto]

Driving Strength Profiles
Driving Strength --------- : Press Enter

Channel A
Static tRead Value -------------------11-- : [Auto]
tRD Phase0 Adjustment --------------0---- : [Auto]
tRD Phase1 Adjustment --------------0---- : [Auto]
tRD Phase2 Adjustment --------------0---- : [Auto]
tRD Phase3 Adjustment --------------0--- : [Auto]
Trd2rd(Different Rank) -------------6---- : [Auto]
Twr2wr(Different Rank) ------------6---- : [Auto]
Twr2rd(Different Rank) -------------5---- : [Auto]
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank) ------------8---- : [Auto]
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control --------------- : [Auto] ps
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control --------------- : [Auto] ps

Channel B
Static tRead Value -------------------11-- : [Auto]
tRD Phase0 Adjustment --------------0---- : [Auto]
tRD Phase1 Adjustment --------------0---- : [Auto]
tRD Phase2 Adjustment --------------0---- : [Auto]
tRD Phase3 Adjustment --------------0--- : [Auto]
Trd2rd(Different Rank) -------------6---- : [Auto]
Twr2wr(Different Rank) ------------6---- : [Auto]
Twr2rd(Different Rank) -------------5---- : [Auto]
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank) ------------8---- : [Auto]
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control --------------- : [Auto] ps
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control --------------- : [Auto] ps
Motherboard Voltage Control
CPU
Voltage Types-------------------------
Load-Line Calibration ----------------- : [Disabled]
CPU Vcore ----------------1.22500V---- : [1.3625V]

CPU Termination --------- 1.200V* ----- : [Auto]
CPU PLL ----------------- 1.500V* ----- : [Auto]
CPU Reference ----------- 0.760V* ----- : [Auto]

MCH/ICH
MCH Core ---------------- 1.100V ------- : [Auto]
MCH Reference ----------- 0.760V ------- : [Auto]
MCH/DRAM Ref ------------ 0.900V ------ : [Auto]
ICH I/O ----------------- 1.500V ------- : [Auto]
DRAM
DRAM Voltage ------------ 1.800V ------- : [2.200]
DRAM Termination -------- 0.900V ------- : [Auto]
Channel A Reference ----- 0.900V ------- : [Auto]
Channel B Reference ----- 0.900V ------- : [Auto]

Advanced Settings
Limit CPUID Max. to 3 ------------------ : [Disabled]
No-Execute Memory Protect -------------- : [Enabled]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E) ---------------- : [Disabled]
C2/C2E State Support ------------------- : [Disabled]
x C4/C4E State Support ----------------- : [Disabled]
CPU Thermal Monitor 2 (TM2) ------------ : [Enabled]
CPU EIST Function --------------------- : [Disabled]
Virtualization Technology -------------- : [Disabled]

Integrated Peripherals
Legacy USB Storage Detect ------------- : [Disabled

[profJim]

Re: What Ram?

Did you do any stress testing at any time with your former memory?

See if you can boot and test with these settings:
(You might need to boot and test with only one memory module if there are problems.)

CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) --------------: [401]
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) ---------- : [101]

(G)MCH Frequency Latch ---------------- : [AUTO]
System Memory Multiplier -------------- : [2.66D]
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ---------------- : [1069]
DRAM Timing Selectable ---------------- : [MANUAL]

CAS Latency Time -----------5--- : [5]
tRCD ---------------------------5-- : [5]
tRP -----------------------------5-- : [5]
tRAS ---------------------------18- : [15]

Static tRead Value -------------------11-- : [8] <-- for memory channels A and B

CPU Vcore ----------------1.22500V---- : [1.3625V]

CPU Termination --------- 1.200V* ----- : [1.26]
CPU PLL ----------------- 1.500V* ----- : 1.57]
CPU Reference ----------- 0.760V* ----- : [Auto]

MCH/ICH
MCH Core ---------------- 1.100V ------- : [1.24] <-- 1.20 - 1.26 might be needed
MCH Reference ----------- 0.760V ------- : [Auto]
MCH/DRAM Ref ------------ 0.900V ------ : [Auto]
ICH I/O ----------------- 1.500V ------- : [1.57]
DRAM
DRAM Voltage ------------ 1.800V ------- : [2.200] <-- 2.30 might be needed